HISTORY OF LIMOS THROUGH THE 1940s

1940s Limos…

The luxury car and limousine industry was at a stand still.  With a major recovery from the Depression and a World War at hand, only they extremely rich and famous could afford a stylish mode of travel.  The average household would just have to wait for their luxury ride.

These double blows to the industry meant that many limo manufacturers who had survived the Depression were put completely out of business by the war. Limo manufacturer Isotta Fraschini, who developed luxury limousines in the 1920s, only put out 5 units at the end of the war and was forced to cancel production.

1940 LIMO AD

Although times were tough, there was still activity around the world.  Detroit started to emerge as a force in the luxury car and limousine business.

Cadillac was also one of the stronger luxury car manufacturers to come out of the 1930′s and ‘40′s and their 1939 Cadillac 60 Special was a huge favorite of actress Betty Grable. Betty loved her Cadillac limousine to travel through the streets of Hollywood in the 1940′s as well as being chauffeured in it to her movie premieres.

The Cadillac Series seventy was in production from 1936 through to 1976 and was Cadillac’s only premier full sized V8-powered car from the 1930s to the ‘50s. The short wheelbase in the Series 70 was replaced in 1941 by the Series 62. The Series 75 made a comeback after the war and was Cadillac’s largest model.

In the 1940′s not only did everyone notice the limousines around town, they would also pay close attention to who was riding in them.  Even the chauffeurs got involved in the hoopla by designing specialized uniforms and strategic methods of entrance and exit.

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